15 Miles On The Meramec

[Al Agnew]

Mitch, Greasy, and I did a long Meramec float today, Mitch and Greasy in one canoe, me in my solo. Why do a 15 mile float? Well, the way we did it, one boat had the left bank all the way down, the other boat the right bank. So you might be paddling 15 miles, but you're only fishing 7 or 8 of them, given that most places when one bank is fishable, the other is a waste of time to fish. I kinda talked them in to doing that long, though. They'll have to chime in and say whether they want to shoot me for it.

Fish were looking for topwaters most of the day. We caught fish on other stuff, but the strikes came pretty consistently on topwater. I say "strikes" instead of fish caught, because it was one of those days when MANY fish weren't getting hooked. I wasn't keeping close track, but I'd guess that we were getting about four strikes per fish hooked, maybe more. And that's not even counting multiple strikes from what was probably the same fish. I ended up with 65 bass caught (52 smallmouth, 10 largemouth, 2 spotted bass, and a spotted/smallmouth hybrid. I think Mitch and Greasy together caught about the same number--with two guys in a canoe, the guy in front usually catches most of the fish, while when fishing solo as I was, I get them all to myself. But if you figure we caught about 130 bass in 15 miles, we probably got strikes from perhaps three times that many if you consider the fish we caught on other stuff as well. That would come to about 25 fish striking our lures per mile.

Unfortunately, they were mostly small. Lots of under 12 inch bass. Not many over 14 inches. Mitch caught a 17 incher on his own crawdad soft plastic design. I hooked one that looked to be about 18 inches on topwater, and lost it at the canoe. But we all had blow-ups from a number of other good fish...probably no 20 inchers, but several that were probably 17-18 inches. I don't mind it when the little ones are striking but not getting hooked...I get to see the strike but I don't have to unhook the fish. But it does get a little frustrating when the bigger fish are doing the same thing. I tried tossing in a tube or jig when I'd get a blow-up and miss, and it never once worked.

Actually, the first 10 of the 15 miles went quickly and easily, a relaxing float as far as I was concerned. But the last five was a different story. The wind came up, and it was blowing from a weird direction, the only direction that would give us a direct headwind...from the northeast. Couple that with the fact that the last five miles has a lot of long, flat, not great habitat runs, and the last five miles seemed to be longer than the first ten.

Anyway...fun trip, saw an eagle and a fawn on the river bank, a pair of mink...caught two 13 inchers at the same time, saw a LOT of big buffalo and drum, cooled off in the river several times.

[Mitch f]

Yes, it was a great time. Wanted to thank Greasy for being the back guy in the canoe all day, I tried to switch but he wouldnt do it. Greasy and I caught twin 15" largies 1/2 mile down from the put in on almost consecutive casts on topwater which was a great way to start. Also caught a 16" smallmouth with one foot of line out on top (startled the crap out of me). Can't wait to hear a report from Gavin, Andrew, and Mike.

Also, the two of us together caught as many as Al...I've given up trying

[ColdWaterFshr]

Mitch wins the pot!

Gavin, Hoffmeyer and myself fished those same last 5 miles as you. Sure glad we didn't opt for the full 15. I wasn't tired so much as just hot and no shade. Too hot for my liking. I like morning or evening fishing when the sun isn't beating on you so bad, or a smaller creek with more canopy. Water was low -- low and an old local talked to us as we were fishing and he said the river was 8 inches lower than he could ever remember it. Also, lots of moss was broken loose and floating down in clumps.

We had very similar experience as fishing success goes. Lots of half-strikes and small fish. Had a HUGE blow up early in the morning near our put in that had me thinking it was going to be a great day, and then not far from there I caught my biggest fish was probably a 15 inch white bass. Gavin said he did too. Mostly lots of small smallies and the occasional largemouth. I think I only caught one spot.

Good times. Got to watch Gavin bust out his Jeep window with his paddle. Broke his paddle too! Dead battery wouldn't let him unlock his car, so he had to resort to that and we were able to give him a jump.

[Mitch f]

Water was low -- low and an old Got to watch Gavin bust out his Jeep window with his paddle. Broke his paddle too! Dead battery wouldn't let him unlock his car, so he had to resort to that and we were able to give him a jump.

One of many instances where modern technology fails us.

Oh yea, forgot to say I caught a white bass on a topwater as well. What did you think about that algae bloom?

[Gavin]

Glad you had fun! We had similar results..The day started off great, 3 12-13" within site of the boat ramp on a big white spinnerbait...then a nice white bass, and an 8" goggle eye on the same bait. Played around with my new Strike King Dawg Jr...walks great, but more blowups than hookups. Switched it out for a Zip'n Ziggy which is slightly smaller and my hookup ratio went way up. Coldwater stuck with his usual buzzer most of the day, and Hoff was having alot of fun fishing a buzzer and a Pop-R. Most of my catch was smallmouth, 3-4 spotted bass, and a couple of LMB. Fishing wasnt great...but steady...probably 8-12 a mile between the 3 of us.

No fun to find a dead battery and breaking into your own vehicle......but things happen.Thought about changing the battery out in Sullivan...but started thinking tow bill and hotel bill if something else was wrong..Limped back to town and the battery was thouroughly cooked. Changed it out and all is well. Just need to line up an auto glass guy. A couple pics...didnt snap any fish pictures, cuz none were memorable.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Not sure, but it was nasty. River needs a good flood for sure.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Gavins Jeep.MOV

[Greasy B]

When the alarm went off at 3:00 AM I thought good lord what have I got myself into. When we shuttled ourselves 15 miles up the river I thought good lord what have I got myself into. When we decided to split the river down the middle with Al fishing the right bank and Mitch and myself fishing the left bank I thought how am I going resist casting to the right when the fishable water on the left disappears.

As it turns out launching at that early hour was a great idea, the air was cool, the fish were active and the river was deserted. The early start went a long way toward clicking off 15 miles too. Dividing the river down the center worked out very well. It left some fresh water for the boat in the rear and we switched lead enough so that when Mitch and I were in the rear we could fish either side, though casting to the right bank was hardly worth it after Al had raked it over. I want to thank Al and Mitch for the great company and a memorable day. I’m looking forward to doing it again. I only took one picture.

[gramps50]

Not sure, but it was nasty. River needs a good flood for sure.

At least needs a few more feet of water so I can get to some other place on the Meramec other than GWP lake. Good pictures guys, sounds like you all had a great time.

[Al Agnew]

Yes, it was a great time. Wanted to thank Greasy for being the back guy in the canoe all day, I tried to switch but he wouldnt do it. Greasy and I caught twin 15" largies 1/2 mile down from the put in on almost consecutive casts on topwater which was a great way to start. Also caught a 16" smallmouth with one foot of line out on top (startled the crap out of me). Can't wait to hear a report from Gavin, Andrew, and Mike.

Also, the two of us together caught as many as Al...I've given up trying

Well heck, Mitch, like I said, I wasn't sharing my half of the river with somebody else like you were. Gotta figure fish per boat, not fish per man. Every time I saw you guys you were catching a fish.

I feel a little bit bad about that last five miles, though. I thought it was a lot better habitat than it turned out to be. Got to thinking, and realized that the last few times I'd fished it, there had been a lot more water, and those long flats with the logs here and there were a little deeper and had more current. Had we stopped at the ten mile mark, it would have been a good day...and we would have avoided most of that upstream wind, too.

I like doing it like we did, with one boat getting first dibs on one side, the other boat the other side. It forces you to fish water you wouldn't ordinarily fish, and sometimes you get some pleasant surprises. There was a spot in one pool where I was going along fishing the shallower side with little current and a few logs, while the other boat was fishing the good bank with deeper water and big rocks. Then I came to an interesting bit of structure that looked man-made, like a long "crib" of rocks coming off the bank and slanting downstream for about 30 feet. You can't see any evidence of it above the water, and the river is wide enough there that if you are fishing the "good" bank you won't look over there and notice that structure. But it sticks out off the bank far enough to catch some current. I caught a nice smallmouth off it, and had a blow up from a big one out on the end of it.